Method of selecting and matching professionals

Abstract

A method of selecting desired professionals in a system by a user which includes the process of forming a collective of repair persons on a system and allows users to sign on to the system. Once signed on to the system, users are able to search for matching repair persons based on search criteria provided by the users. With a match, the repair persons and users are notified and they proceed to schedule the project.

1 . A computer-based method of selecting professionals, comprising:
 forming, by a computer for selecting repair persons, a collective of repair persons;   receiving, by the computer and from the user, search criteria;   receiving, by the computer and from the user, a set period for conducting a search;   searching a database of repair persons and users;   matching, by the computer, the search criteria with information on a repair person contained in the system;   notifying, by the computer, the repair person;   scheduling, by the computer, the project with the repair person; and   in response to the scheduling, awarding, by the computer, at least one of the user or the repair person, wherein the awarding comprises awarding at least one of rewards points, a discount on goods, a discount on services, or a cash rebate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing the user with a list of repair persons meeting the user's criteria. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining additional information on a repair person. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the scheduling further comprises:
 coordinating the schedules of the user and the repair person; and   confirming an appointment.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing feedback. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising rating the repair persons. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining whether a match has been made;   providing match information relating to said determination;   offering the user an alternative recommendation;   determining whether the customer is satisfied with the alternative recommendation; and   referring the customer to another source.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 checking the user's membership status;   checking the user's interest in signing up with the system; and   obtaining information from the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising paying a fee. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 determining whether the user agrees to a set of terms;   providing the cost of a project; and   providing an agreed upon' fee.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 checking the customer's membership status;   checking the customer's interest in signing up with the system; and   obtaining information.   
     
     
         12 . A system for selecting desired professionals, comprising:
 a memory device; and   a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to:
 form a collective of professionals; 
 enable at least one user sign on to the system; 
 enable at least one user to provide search criteria; 
 match the criteria with information on repair persons contained on the system; 
 notify at least one person associated with the information; and 
 enable at least one user to schedule a project with said at least one person associated with the information. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is further configured to provide a user with a list of repair persons meeting the user's criteria. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 enable the coordination of user and repair person schedules; and   enable the confirmation of an appointment.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether a match has been made;   provide match information;   offer the user an alternative recommendation;   determine whether the user is satisfied with the alternative recommendation; and   refer the user to another source or site.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 check the user's membership status;   check the user's interest in signing up with the system; and   obtain information from the user.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the processor is further configured to receive payment of a fee. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the user agrees to a set of terms;   enable users to provide the cost of a project; and   enable users to provide an agreed upon fee.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 check the user's membership status;   check the user's interest in signing up with the system; and   obtain information from the user.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer for selecting professionals, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
 forming a collective of repair persons;   enabling users to sign on to a system;   enabling users to provide search criteria;   matching the criteria with information contained on the system;   notifying professionals; and   enabling users to schedule a project.   
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , further the instructions causing the computer to perform operations further comprising:
 determining whether a match has been made;   providing match information;   offering the user an alternative recommendation;   determining whether the user is satisfied with the alternative recommendation; and   referring the user to another source.   
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , further the instructions causing the computer to perform operations further comprising:
 checking a user's membership status;   checking the user's interest in subscribing with the system; and   obtaining information from the user.   
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , further the instructions causing the computer to perform operations further comprising:
 enabling the user to pay a requisite fee; and   receiving the fee.   
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , further the instructions causing the computer to perform operations further comprising:
 determining whether the user agrees to a set of terms;   enabling a user to provide the cost of a project.   
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 23 , further the instructions causing the computer to perform operations further comprising:
 checking the user's membership status;   checking the user's interest in subscribing to the system; and   obtaining information from the user.